How to Support Small Businesses in New Zealand Without Spending a Cent

Supporting local businesses in New Zealand makes a real difference, especially for small, independent makers and creatives. Chain stores won't notice when you place an order with them, but I guarantee that a small business will - and yes, a happy dance WILL follow!

But it's not just about the sales. There are so many other ways you can support small local businesses without spending any money. And absolutely every single little action helps us to grow and thrive (and to be honest, in this tough economy, sometimes it's actually just about being able to keep going).

Why Does Supporting Local Matter?

Small businesses are the heart of communities across New Zealand. Supporting NZ businesses strengthens our local economy, creates jobs, and reduces our collective carbon footprint. On a more personal level - when you support local, you're supporting real people, their families and their dreams.

Even without buying anything, your actions can help small businesses grow - and build unique communities that are rich in creativity, vibrance and passion.

I've put together a list of easy ways to support your favourite small businesses without spending a cent, all of which will help to boost their visibility, credibility and growth. And the best part - they can all be done from the comfort of your couch!

Easy and Free Ways to Support NZ Small Businesses:

• Follow on social media: Like, share or save their posts on Instagram and Facebook. Comment with an encouraging message. This engagement helps small businesses get noticed on these social media platforms and puts them in front of new audiences.
  
  
  
• Recommend to your local network: We all know how powerful word-of-mouth is, and every referral makes a huge difference. Tell friends, family, colleagues and neighbours about businesses that you love or have had a great experience with.
  
  
• Write a positive review: Leave a review on Google, Facebook or the business website if you have experienced their products or services. From my personal experience - whenever I am about to try a new restaurant or buy from a new business, I ALWAYS check their reviews. It's a quick way to give me peace of mind that I'll have a good experience.
  
  For small businesses like mine, reviews mean EVERYTHING. They give potential customers confidence to take that next step and make a purchase. Sometimes, a single review can literally be the difference between a sale or no sale - which is massive for a small business!
  
  
  
• Read their blog posts or subscribe to their newsletter: This shows your support and helps to expand their reach. Plus, you can learn great tips, get behind-the-scenes insights into how these businesses run, and be the first to hear about new products or promotions.
  
  
  
• Visit and share their website: Every click on a website improves their Google ranking and helps to make their business more visible to new customers who are searching for their products or services.
  
  
• Tag them in photos: If you're sharing a photo online showing you wearing or using something from a small business - tag them! This adds social proof and helps to show that this business is credible and reliable (if you want to tag me, I'm @aureliumjewellery!).

To Sum Up:

In today's world of mass-production, fast fashion and faceless brands, locally-owned businesses deserve as much love and attention as we can give. There are countless incredible small businesses in New Zealand that could do with a little boost, especially in these tough times.

Your help in doing just one of the above actions can add up to make a big difference to small businesses so that we can continue offering products and services that are grounded in passion and integrity.

Thank you for helping our local businesses grow - every little action helps more than you know!

Aurelium jewellery is designed and handmade by Laura Naik in her Christchurch studio. Read more about her work and the ethos behind her minimalist everyday jewellery here.